ParksandGardens, Abidjan

Madam Tinubu, the Nigerian businesswoman and patriot, after whom the prominent Lagos landmark, “Tinubu Square,” is named lived in the area in the 19th century and was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Western Nigeria, to a trading family. Tinubu square is by Broad street, CMS, Marina – and the Brazilian quarters in Lagos Island . https://afrotourism.com/attraction/tinubu-square/

Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary situated outside of picturesque Regent Village is only 30 minutes from Freetown. Located along the Regent/Bathurst mountain road, this sanctuary for orphaned and habituated chimpanzees is a refuge for human visitors as well. Offering daily scheduled visits, as well as 6 eco-huts for overnight stays, Tacugama is the perfect place for those wishing to escape the heat and hustle of Freetown and enjoy fragrant forest breezes in the company of some extraordinary creatures. The Sanctuary now offers self-catering accommodation in the form of 6 beautifully crafted lodges. Established to rescue orphaned and captured chimps, the facilities expanded to encompass two large reserves. Tacugama has been featured in various wildlife programmes and magazines. A rescued albino chimp at the sanctuary also helped to bring it to international attention. Sadly, the albino chimp is no longer alive but the sanctuary continues to grow from strength to strength. These endangered animals share 98.6 per cent of their DNA with humans and their complex social behaviours and human-like tendencies are fascinating to behold. The story behind Tacugama is just as riveting. Established in 1995, this sanctuary, which covers 100 acres of rain-forest and watershed, is home to 90 chimpanzees that have been victimized by the illegal hunting, capturing, and selling of their species. During the conflict, Tacugama staff smuggled food to the chimpanzees and pleaded with the rebels to spare their lives. Don’t miss the extraordinary experience of viewing these intelligent beings up-close in their natural habitat. https://www.visitsierraleone.org/tacugama-chimpanzee-sanctuary/

Covering 400,000 acres as at year 2000, the Douala-Edéa Wildlife Reserve boasts an 80% tropical lowland equatorial forests and 15% Atlantic mangrove, including Lake Tissongo. Established in 1932, the reserve was designated a wildlife park in 1971. http://afrotourism.com/attraction/douala-edea-wildlife-reserve/

Praca Alexandre Albuquerque, also known as Praça 12 de Setembro, was built in 1826 and is located in the south of the Platô district. He has been named after the Portuguese governor Caetano Alexandre de Almeida e Albuquerque since 1975, who ruled from 1869 to 1876. The rectangular square of about 7,200 square meters is covered with trees, mainly mango and kapok. On the square next to a fountain are two monuments, a monument to Alexandre Albuquerque and another for Serpa Pinto. On its east side are the cathedral and the Palace of Justice, on the south side the town hall and on the west and north side commercial buildings. https://www.holidaycheck.de/pi/praca-alexandre-albuquerque/8e763ed6-c47a-3b6d-85ca-e9cef3ea275d

Because of the spectacular fields of solidified lava that make up the island of Lanzarote, Timanfaya is the land of volcanoes. http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres/naturaleza/espacios-naturales/parque_nacional_de_timanfaya.html

You can not miss that wonderful National Park. You will enjoy landscapes that will seem like another planet. You will breathe the pure air of the highest peak in Spain. You will walk among the volcanic lava and you will feel tiny when you see the impressive environment declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. https://www.webtenerife.com/que-visitar/parque-nacional-del-teide/?tab=1

The Majorelle Garden is a small, peaceful heaven, located in the heart of the city of Marrakesh. This garden is a living masterpiece composed of exotic plants and rare species, which Jacques Majorelle, a botanical lover, brings back from his travels around the world: cactus, yuccas, water lilies, water lilies, jasmines, bougainvillea, palm trees, coconut trees, banana trees, bamboo... In 1937, the artist creates ultramarine both intense and clear blue, the Majorelle blue, of which he dyes his garden that opens to the public in 1947. The workshop became the Berber Museum, which was inaugurated in 2011 under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohamed VI. It presents a panorama of the extraordinary creativity of these people, the oldest in North Africa. From the Rif to the Sahara, more than 600 objects collected by Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent attest the richness and diversity of a culture that is still alive. https://visitmarrakech.com/discover-marrakech/gardens/majorelle-garden

The Kasbah of the Udayas and its Andalusian garden, the Chellah necropolis, the green belt, the Ibn Sina forest and the test gardens are perfect expressions of this spirit. Plus there is the Rabat zoo, where animals live in faithful recreations of their natural habitats. http://www.visitmorocco.com/en/rabat-green-city

The Municipal Garden of Funchal, also known as Dona Amélia Garden, is located where the Convent of Saint Francis once stood. Here, you will find flora from Madeira and of many other parts of the World. http://www.visitmadeira.pt/en-gb/resultados-de-pesquisa/resultados-pesquisa-detalhe/funchal-municipal-garden

Alameda Vieja is a well known Park in the city of Jerez. http://www.turismojerez.com/index.php/en/what-to-visit-in-jerez/nature4/city-parks/item/1603-alameda-vieja?catid=127

The Zoological Park and Botanical Garden of Jerez is one of the oldest in Spain. Its history begins at the beginning of the 50s when in the old Tempul Gardens a small collection of animals without recipients were deposited in the Port of Cádiz. The main promoter of the idea was the then Councilor for Parks and Gardens Mr. Alberto Durán Tejera. Zoological collection of Zoobotanico Jerez contains more than 1,000 animals belonging to about 200 different species from the five continents. Enjoy your day among flamingos, wildcats, giraffes, meerkats and many more! http://www.zoobotanicojerez.com/

The pink Estoi Palace is the finest example of Rococo architecture found within the Algarve, while the carefully maintained grounds contain beautiful Azulejos tiles. http://www.algarve-tourist.com/Faro-portugal-guide.html

This palace museum has an extensive collection of items from Cordoba including furniture and coffered objects. Of particular note is the staircase which gives access to the upper floor. This stately mansion was originally a single building that was extended with the adjoining buildings, and today occupies a large area with a predominance of courtyards and gardens. https://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres/arte/monumentos/cordoba/palacio_de_los_marqueses_de_viana.html

Anyone who loves nature and places untouched by the human hand will find the Almadenes Canyon a landscape of singular beauty. On the other hand, there is a rich biodiversity of flora including poplars, ashes and willows and wildlife such as the eagle owl, the short-toed Eagle and the otter. In this attractive touristic enclave, you can pursue adventure sports such as trekking, canyoning, and of course, the river descent by inflatable boat or kayak which offers every visitor the opportunity to travel down the river irrespective of their age or physical fitness. https://www.murciaturistica.es/en/natural_area/ca%c3%b1on-de-almadenes-4508/

The tree enchants by its gigantic size and production, which reaches 80 thousand fruits per crop! Instead of growing upwards, the branches grow sideways and because of their own weight, tend to bend downwards, reaching the ground. From the original trunk, dozens of branches grow, which in turn become other trunks, with roots with depth of up to 2 meters. The tree manages to produce from 70 to 80 thousand cashews per crop, the equivalent of 2.5 tons. The fruits are not sold, but it is possible to take some home. The site has a structure with craft shops in the region, a 10 meters-high viewing spot and guides who speak English and Spanish. https://www.visitbrasil.com/attractions/cajueiro-de-pirangi.html

Area of environment preservation, it maintains threatened species, being one of the biggest parks of Natal! Parque das Dunas, in Natal, was created in 1977 with an area of 1,172 hectares and it is the first Environment Preservation Unit implemented in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The Park receives annually around 150 thousand visitors. It has Bosque dos Namorados, where it is possible to walk and do gymnastics. There are also picnic and exhibit areas. The Park has Atlantic forest plant formations and over 270 tree species, such as pau-brasil (Caesalpinia echinata), peroba (Aspidosperma polyneuron), and sucupira (Pterodon emarginatus), as well as bromeliads and orchids. Regarding fauna, it is possible to observe timbu (Didelphis albiventris), gato-maracajá (Leopardus wiedii), foxes, sagui (Callithrix jacchus), jiboia (Boa constrictor), snakes and a large amount of insects. https://www.visitbrasil.com/attractions/parque-das-dunas-dunes-park.html

"Postcard" of João Pessoa, the Lagoon Park Solon de Lucena offers leisure and security to the population of the city and tourists visiting the capital of Paraíba. There are 35 thousand square meters of paved walkways connected to the four entrances of the Park, which has 24 hour security and 553 lighting points, of which 262 are LED spotlights. The venue has 12 squares, bike path, jogging track, international standard skate park, extreme sports area with slackline, climbing wall and a deck available for free for parties and events. Green is also one of the hallmarks of Parque da Lagoa, which has 215 palm trees and 738 native trees (Pau-Brasil, Sibipiruna, Gameleira, Oitizeiros, Pitombeiras, yellow, pink and purple ipe) and exotic (Ficus macrocarpa, Castanholas, Cássea Rust). http://www.joaopessoa.pb.gov.br/parquedalagoa/

The park is the largest green area of the Central Region of Recife, with its 6.9 Hectares. It was the 1st Urban Park of Recife and has a children’s playground, sculptures of Abelardo da Hora, fountains and jogging track, Academia da Cidade (gym for the Recife population) and Mini zoo. https://visit.recife.br/en/o-que-fazer/atracoes/parques-e-pracas/parque-13-de-maio

One of Lisbon’s latest must-visit places. This river beach, with its broad steps, attracts locals and tourists in search of hot sun tempered by the breeze of the river. https://www.visitlisboa.com/see-do/sightseeing-activities/attractions/ribeira-das-naus

Locals and visitors of Cascais can enjoy a wonderful setting in the heart of this unique town, comprising the Marechal Carmona Park and the Manuel Possolo Hippodrome. The site features ten hectares of parkland, with rest areas, trails for pleasant walks and leisure areas for children. Everyone who visits Cascais is invited to enjoy the Hippodrome’s extensive lawn and facilities during periods when no competitions are being held. The hippodrome’s lawn has been specially prepared for traditional games, something that will become a regular occurrence at this new public site. Benefiting from a unique setting, this complex is excellent for both jogging and family walks. Here you can absorb the beauty of the surrounding nature, play sports or enjoy diverse leisure activities along the trails. https://www.visitcascais.com/en/resource/hipodromo-manuel-possolo

Visit the luxurious gardens and greenhouses, bridges, statues, waterfalls and fountains that make Monserrate one of the must-visit places on your stay in Lisbon. https://www.visitlisboa.com/see-do/sightseeing-activities/museums-monuments/monserrate-palace-and-gardens

Acrobosc Ibiza is a fantastic outdoor adventure park with activities both for young and old. Set in an area of pine trees just 100m from the Cala Pada beach, there are three circuits you can follow, according to your height and age, putting your balance and skills to challenge. Thirty-nine platforms between 2 and 6m high, 49 obstacles and 20 zip lines from 4 to 65m length and trampolines will guarantee you 2 to 2 1/2 hours of fun & adrenaline. After fitting you with a safety harness, the instructors will train you and then it's up to you to find your pace as you balance tight ropes, walk over nets suspended mid-air or slide down one of the zip slides (always safely connected to a safety cable). Those under age 18 need to be accompanied by an adult. https://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/activity/acrobosc-ibiza

Covering over 125 hectares and comprising more than 15,000 trees, El Retiro Park is a green oasis in the heart of the city. In it you’ll find all kinds of interesting monuments and gardens, including the Jardín de Vivaces, the Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez (Andalusian-inspired classicistic gardens), the Jardines del Arquitecto Herrero Palacios, the Rosaleda rose garden and the Parterre Francés, which holds a Mexican conifer that is nearly 400 years old and is believed to be Madrid’s oldest tree. https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/parque-del-retiro

In 1968, Manuel Herrero Palacios designed these 8 hectares of gardens so that one could sit and admire the magnificence of the Temple of Debod, which had been donated to Spain by the Government of Egypt. The Debod Mausoleum, which is more than 2,000 years old, was rescued from the waters of Aswan Dam by a group of Spanish archaeologists. They brought back every stone and rebuilt it in its present location, after the Government of Egypt donated it to Spain. It was set on the remains of Cuartel de la Montaña, retaining the orientation to the sun it had at its place of origin. From here, the famous Manzanares cornice, with the Royal Palace, Casa de Campo and, possibly, the most beautiful sunsets in Madrid, can be seen. The garden’s parterres on both sides are merely a vegetation frame. They are enclosed with squares, banana trees for alignment and groups of palm trees and Mediterranean plants on the meadows. https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/jardines-del-templo-de-debod

The botanical garden, directed by the University of Cagliari and streched for 5 hectares. Currently the garden contains some 2000 species, predominantly of Mediterranean origin but with a good collection of succulents and tropical plants as well. http://www.cagliariturismo.it/en/places/places-of-nature-318/green-areas-16/botanical-garden-83

Park Guell is one of the most fantastic designs ever built by Gaudi. A landmark on its own, it features amazing views of Barcelona and plenty of modernist works. Needless to say, as soon you pass the entrance, you’ll notice right away that this isn’t an ordinary park. Curiously, Park Güell wasn’t originally intended to be a park, but rather a project for luxurious homes. In 1900, the site was just a rocky hill with nothing but vegetation around, in the vicinity of some isolated upper class country houses. The result was one of the most fascinating works by Gaudí. The intention of the project was to take advantage of the breathtaking views of Barcelona and the clean fresh air, away from the factories, in order to build a top of the line housing complex. In Park Guell, there are plenty of paths and vegetation to enjoy, but the architectural structures are the glue that holds the whole place together. https://barcelonando.com/parc-guell

The park covers a surface area of 17 hectares and gives Nou Barris a pleasant, modern appearance in keeping with the residential area where it is located. It blends in perfectly with the site and its undulating landform has a lot of surprises in store. http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/page/524/parc-central-de-nou-barris.html

The promontory of Capo Caccia, also known as the Sleeping Giant, is the undisputed symbol of Alghero, standing just north of the town’s bay. These sheer cliffs, known paradise for climbing lovers, drop to very deep water providing fantastic views of the coast. Not to be missed is the breathtaking panorama from the cliff in front of the island of Foradada. http://www.algheroconcierge.com/places-of-interest/0/4/18/capo_caccia__the_marine_park.aspx

A Riouxa Park, in Teis neighbourhood, is 60 hectares in size and a favourite among the locals for dog-walking and taking the kids to its large playground. Designed by the Catalonian architect Ricardo Bofill, this park has numerous species of trees, of which many were brought from other parts of the world. An example of this is the horse chestnut, which coexists with native species such as the oak. http://www.turismodevigo.org/en/riouxa-park

The National Park covers - including land and marine areas - 20,180 ha, with a coastal development of 180 kilometers. La Maddalena, mother island and capital of the homonymous Archipelago, is the Park gateway. It is the one and only inhabited island, except for the village of Stagnali in Caprera Island and the settlements of Santa Maria. http://www.parks.it/parco.nazionale.arcip.maddalena/Epun.php

The Picos de Europa National Park was the first one to be awarded that designation in Spain. Its history goes back to 1918, when don Pedro Pidal, Marquis of Villaviciosa, promoted the law to create the Montaña de Covadonga National Park, which was named Picos de Europa National Park on 30 May 1995. This natural area was awarded the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation in 2002. http://www.spain.info/en_IN/que-quieres/naturaleza/espacios-naturales/parque_nacional_de_los_picos_de_europa.html

Stroll along the water in an electric boat, drive yourself on the Bass, in the heart of Perpignan! Up to 4 people per boat. http://www.perpignantourisme.com/decouvrir/nos-visites-guidees/individuels/barques-catalanes#sthash.N1c4WA1t.dpbs

José do Canto (1820-1898) was a rich man, cultivated and nature lover. Deeply acquainted with the secrets of botany, he established contacts with botanic gardens and nurserymen from all over the world, to whom he bought, sold or traded plants. http://www.josedocanto.com/sobre-about/